Still the Best Woman for the Job

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “I’ve missed you too.” She lifted her hips, grinding them sensually against his body. She ignored the small voice in her head that demanded she slow her roll. If this were anyone other than Craig on top of her, she might’ve been able to, but this was Craig and she didn’t want to stop. She wanted him even more than she cared to admit.

  The doorbell rang.

  “Don’t answer it,” his words gruff against her lips. His hands were like a heat-seeking missile as he undid her belt, and unzipped her jeans with the ease of a person who knew of the gift that lied beneath. “They’ll go away.”

  The bell rang again followed by an insistent knock and Toni wanted to scream. She tried to ignore the pounding but groaned and eventually went limp in Craig’s arms. “I’m sorry, but if I don’t go see what’s going on this person may never go away.” When he loosened his hold, she jumped up and slipped on her flannel shirt, only buttoning two of the buttons and zipped her pants. “I’ll only be a minute.”

  She headed toward the stairs that led to the ground floor and glanced back at Craig sitting on her sofa. Her breath caught and her panties grew wetter when he met her gaze as he cupped the large bulge in his pants.

  This better be important. She flew down the stairs ready to strangle whoever was leaning on her doorbell and banging on her door.

  Once downstairs, she peeked out the window. What the heck?

  “Ronald, what are you doing here?” she spat out the words impatiently when she swung the door open. She glanced back to make sure Craig hadn’t followed her. “I told you I didn’t want to see you anymore.” If only she had thought to bring her bat downstairs. Apparently, a knock upside the head was the only thing he would understand.

  “Come on, baby, you’ve been dodging me for the past few days. I told you I was sorry about last weekend.” He ran a finger down the front of her shirt, between her breast, and she jumped back and held her shirt closed remembering she was braless. “I told you the truth. I forgot I took some allergy medicine earlier that day, and I guess it didn’t mix well with liquor.”

  “What part of I don’t want to see you anymore don’t you understand?”

  “I know what you said, but I know you didn’t mean it. You have to give me another chance.”

  “Ronald, we’re done. Now leave before I call the police.”

  “Oh, so now you’re threatening me?” He stepped closer and backed her into the entryway. A wicked sneer marred his handsome face as he loomed over her. “I said I was sorry. What more do you want?”

  “I want you to leave. Now!”

  She knew all she had to do was call out to Craig, but knowing how protective he was of her and the mood he was in when he arrived, she figured she’d try to handle Ronald herself.

  “I know you’re into me.” He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her head. His features hardened and he grabbed her chin in his hand, pulling her closer. “I don’t think I want to leave.”

  “Then you might want to rethink that.” Craig’s deep baritone voice was low and deadly. Toni knew that all Craig needed today was an excuse to punch someone.

  Ronald jerked his head up. “Who the hell are you?” he growled. “This is between me and her, so you can just go back to wherever you came from. Or better yet, why don’t you show yourself out and stay out of our business.”

  Toni didn’t have to look around to know that Craig was standing directly behind her, his anger breathing down her neck.

  Craig stepped around her, one of his hands shoved into his front pants pocket. “I can’t believe you showed up here, despite Toni telling you over and over again that she’s not interested in you.” He shook his head. “Damn, man, you’re even stupider than I originally thought.”

  Toni grabbed Craig’s arm when he moved closer to Ronald. “Craig, please don’t ...” She quickly turned to Ronald knowing what Craig was capable of. “Just leave before you get hurt.”

  “Oh, please,” Ronald snapped. “Like this pretty-boy’s going to do anything. I’ll leave when I get good and ready.” He leaned against the coat-closet door and folded his arms across his chest.

  Craig grabbed his arm. “You heard the lady. Get out.”

  “Man, you don’t know me!” Ronald yanked free and pointed his finger in Craig’s face. “And you sure as hell don’t scare me! So I suggest you leave before you’re the one who gets hurt.”

  Ronald eased his jacket open and that’s when Toni noticed the dark handle of the weapon sticking out of the front of his waistband.

  Craig pulled a gun out of thin air. “Police officer, freeze! Let me see your hands, asshole!” His gun was aimed at Ronald and Ronald seemed to be just as stunned as Toni. “I said let me see your goddamn hands!”

  Ronald slowly lifted his hands and backed away until he bumped into the wall near the door. “You’re a cop?” he asked in disbelief. Craig snatched Ronald’s gun from the front of his pants and shoved it into the back of his waistband, not taking his eyes off him. Ronald turned his attention to Toni. “You set me up?”

  Toni shook her head stunned at the way the situation was turning out. “No, no … I … I …”

  “Toni, go upstairs and call 911.”

  “Craig.” She was afraid to leave them alone. She knew Craig was the ultimate professional, taking his job seriously and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his livelihood. But she also knew he was hurting and disappointed in the way his case turned out. She feared he would snap at any moment. Ronald showing up didn’t help the situation.

  “Go now, Toni!” Rarely did he raise his voice at her, but the vibrations from his anger bounced off the walls and Toni stumbled, but quickly found her footing.

  She slowly backed up the stairs and heard Craig say to Ronald, “I ought to put a bullet in your head for harassing her.”

  ***

  Anger sent a blast of adrenaline spiraling through Craig’s body. He flexed his hands on the steel barrel of his gun, drew in a deep breath and fought hard to fill his constricted lungs. He itched to pull the trigger and that scared him to death. He couldn’t make this jerk take the blame for all of the other bastards who threatened women and got away with it. But to find him threatening Toni, made him want to do unthinkable things to him.

  “I didn’t do anything. Why’d you have her call 911?”

  “What do you mean you didn’t do anything? You’ve been harassing her, you came here and threatened her, and you’ve been following her.” Craig cracked a devious smile at the surprised look on Ronald’s face. “Yeah, I know what you’ve been up to the last few days.”

  “Hey, I meant no harm.” He lowered his hands. “I was trying to plead my case. I wasn’t going to do anything to Toni.” His gaze darted around the small space.

  “Yeah, that’s why you’re carrying a gun. Keep your hands where I can see them.” Ronald raised his hands higher. “You might have to do this shit to get women to date you, but when you start harassing my woman, you’ve gone too far.”

  “Your … your woman?” His eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t know. She didn’t say she was seeing anyone.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You should have left her alone when she first told you to. Now I’m going to charge you with everything from carrying a concealed weapon to assault, since I witnessed you threaten her.”

  Two police officers arrived before Craig could finish his speech.

  “What’s up, Detective Logan?” The tall lanky officer with a spattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose greeted Craig. “I see you’re catching bad guys even when you’re off duty huh?”

  Craig offered a slight smile and nodded, but didn’t take his eyes off Ronald while the cops read him his Miranda rights. After they had him cuffed, Craig leaned close to Ronald.

  “Come near her again, and I will beat your ass so bad no one’s going to be able to identify your body.”

  “Wh … what?” Ronald glanced around frantically. “Did you hear what he said to me?” He yelled at the cop pushing him
toward the squad car.

  “Hear what?” the officer turned to his partner. “Did you hear anything?”

  “Nope. Not a thing. Let’s go.”

  “Did you have to arrest him?” Toni asked when they walked back upstairs, the disapproval in her tone evidence that she didn’t like the way he handled the situation.

  Craig frowned at her. “That jerk was threatening you and now you’re asking me why I did everything I could to make sure you’re protected?”

  She rocked on the balls of her feet, her hands shoved inside her back pockets. “I guess not. I just wish things could have been handled differently.”

  Craig slipped into his jacket not taking his gaze off Toni. He wanted more than anything to carry her to her bedroom and pick up where they left off minutes ago, but he was glad Ronald had interrupted their little tryst. He had lost his head. Getting her back in his life was going to take time and finesse. He wasn’t the most patient man in the world, but he had to figure out why she really left him and then determine how best to convince her to give him another chance. To give them another chance.

  He grabbed her hand and led her back down the stairs and to the door. Leaving was the last thing he wanted to do, but it was too soon for them to have sex. Even a kiss was pushing the limit when he considered each time their lips touched, he wanted to ravage other parts of her body. Nothing had been settled between them and once he won her back, he wanted all of her. Not the woman who was apparently keeping a secret that she thought he couldn’t handle.

  He pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry about showing up today the way I did, but I’m not going to apologize for what happened to Ronald. I’ve seen too many situations go horribly wrong because some knucklehead wanted to scare a woman into submission. You mean everything to me, and there is no way I’m going to let anyone get away with harassing you.”

  Toni leaned into his touch. “I’m glad you were here.” Her hands rested against his chest and he could feel the heat from her fingers through his shirt. “You know you don’t have to leave right?” Her hands inched up his chest until she reached his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He backed her up against the wall and rubbed his lower body against hers, making sure she felt the effect she had on him. “I would love to stay, but I need to go down to the station and give my report.” He nuzzled her neck while his hands explored her curves, his shaft growing harder against his zipper by her erotic moans. He loved the way her body molded into his, but if he didn’t stop now, he was going to take her right then and there.

  He placed a lingering kiss against her soft lips and pulled back. “Until Friday.”

  Chapter Six

  Toni’s fresh scent of Cashmere Mist permeated the air, and all Craig could think about was pulling her into his arms and kissing her senseless. She’d worn the same mellow fragrance of airy sandalwood, mixed with baby powder the first time he made love to her. The scent drove him crazy then, and it had the same effect now. He wondered if she wore the perfume intentionally to entice him.

  “You didn’t get rid of the Camaro did you?” Toni asked when they stopped next to the Land Rover with chrome rims and dark tinted windows. “I didn’t get a chance to ask you the other day when you stopped by.”

  “No, I still have Red Rage. She’s the jewel of my collection. I needed a vehicle that handled better in the snow and besides that the Rover is plusher. Do you like it?”

  “I do, and it’s nice to see you’re finally using some of your inheritance to buy a few toys,” she said sliding onto the soft leather seat. “Can I drive?” she asked before he shut her door.

  Craig laughed. The last time he had let her drive his Camaro, not only did she scare the crap out of him but she was pulled over for speeding. It was a good thing he was in the passenger seat.

  “Uh, we’ll see,” he said when he slid into the driver’s side.

  Tonight he wanted them to hash out their differences and get to the bottom of what was bothering her, find out what was keeping her from being his again. The sexual attraction between them was stronger than ever, but the conversations over the last few days proved that they were still on different sides when it came to getting back together. As far as he was concerned, they were a perfect couple and he still didn’t buy her reason for breaking up with him in the first place, especially when even now he felt that powerful connection that they’d once had.

  Twenty minutes later, Craig pulled into the underground parking lot of the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. He escorted Toni through the main lobby not missing the way her eyes lit up as she perused the architectural detail of the historic building. She was the only woman he knew who got off on architectural structures. Each time he brought her to the building it was as if she had an orgasmic experience when she walked through. Not only did she admire the Brazilian rosewood, the Egyptian décor, and the Rookwood fountain that made up the exquisite masterpiece, on occasion, she felt it her duty to inform him of the history of the building.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever tire of being in the midst of such perfection,” Toni said wistfully.

  Craig placed his hand at the small of her back, pulling her closer. “I’m glad you think I’m perfect,” he said near her ear. “I think you’re pretty perfect yourself.”

  She swatted at him and laughed. “I was actually talking about the plaza and you know it.”

  He chuckled. “All I know is that whenever we’re together, you look at me with those exotic brown eyes like you want to jump my bones and have your way with me.”

  She slowed and her mouth dropped opened as if she’d been caught watching her parents have sex.

  Well, well, well, I didn’t just imagine the looks she gave me the night of her grandfather’s party and the other day at her place. Craig placed the new knowledge of how Toni wanted him into the back of his mind and gently nudged her along toward the restaurant before she could reply. Instead of taking her to dinner, maybe what he should have done was get a hotel room.

  “Good evening. Thank you for joining us here at Orchids at Palm Court. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked.

  “Yes. Our reservation should be under Logan.”

  “Ah, yes, here we are.” She scribbled something on the board lying in front of her, grabbed two menus and handed them to the hostess to her right. “Melanie will show you to your table.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Is this table okay?” Melanie asked when they reached a semi-circle booth slightly hidden by a palm tree secluded from the other tables.

  Craig glanced at Toni for her approval. When she nodded he agreed, “This is perfect, thank you.”

  Craig and Toni talked and laughed like old times throughout dinner, and Craig realized just how much he had missed their conversations. No other woman stimulated him the way Toni did, mentally or physically. Her quirky sense of humor, her contagious smile and her ability to speak on any subject made him want to be around her all the time. He missed living with her. He missed knowing that when he got off a long, stressful work shift, she was in his home waiting for him, willing to talk and listen as only a significant other could do. This was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

  “So how’s the construction business?” Craig asked.

  “What? Peyton didn’t tell you?” Toni smirked and moved her plate aside. She folded her hands on top of the table and tilted her head. “From what I can tell, it sounds like you and some of the members of my family have stayed in contact despite our breakup.”

  Craig chuckled. “What can I say? Your family became my family when we were dating, and though you asked me to give you the space you needed, I didn’t see anything wrong with maintaining my friendship with the Jenkins clan.”

  Slow to speak, Toni brushed a few crumbs off to the side with the back of her hand. Seconds passed before she lifted her eyes to him. “I’m sorry … for everything. I know when I told you I needed space and then moved out you were caug
ht off guard. I realize now, I should have handled the situation differently.”

  Craig leaned forward and covered her hands with his. “What would you have done differently?” He thought this might be his only opportunity to find out what triggered her decision.

  Toni shook her head. “I’m not sure. Maybe I would have actually sat down and tried to explain how I was feeling. I’m just not sure.”

  Craig knew if he pushed too hard she would push back. He also knew that they would never be able to move forward if she wasn’t honest with her feelings. He released her small hands. He was always amazed at their softness considering she made a living as a plumber.

  “You know …” He stopped speaking when the busboy came to clear their table, followed by the server.

  “How was dinner tonight?” She looked at Toni and then at him.

  “Good,” Craig said.

  “Good as usual,” Toni added.

  “I’m glad to hear that. How about some dessert this evening?”

  The server rattled off their dessert menu and the items she’d recommend. All Craig could think about was the type of dessert he wanted. The type that wasn’t on the menu. What he wouldn’t give to spend the night with Toni and get reacquainted with her luscious body, feel her soft skin against his and come together as one, with him deep inside her sweet heat.

  “Craig?” Toni called his name more than once. “The server asked if you wanted anything.”

  He shook off the vision of Toni lying naked beneath him. “Uh coffee, just coffee.”

  When the server walked away with their order Craig asked, “What was your real reason for breaking up with me, for walking away from a relationship that was better than good?”

  His gaze clung to hers, analyzing her reaction to his question, but then she glanced away.

  “So when did you make detective?” Toni asked finally looking at him.

  Craig knew how she felt about his job and planned to stay clear of all conversation regarding his work. But why evade the inevitable? The evening was not going according to plan anyway.